National Marine Fisheries Service has called for the temporary
closure of directed fishing for Alaska Pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the
Gulf of Alaska through May 31 to avoid exceeding the “A” season allowance of
the 2021 total allowable catch for that area.
NMFS published the order in the Federal Register this week, noting
that the “A” season allowance for Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf is 6,297
metric tons, as established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the GOA.
Federal fisheries officials determined that the “A” season
allowance of that TAC of Pollock would soon be reached and is setting aside the
remaining 200 metric tons as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries.